Sports FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 Five reasons for Barcelona’s dramatic dip

MADRID: Barcelona’s hopes of becoming began in El Clasico on April 2 and lacked the times Barca have been eliminated from the clubs and has only added to Barca’s fatigue the first side to retain the Champions League physical freshness to break down the mass Champions League. Messi started 2016 on in an extremely demanding season. were dashed as they were eliminated 3-2 on ranks of Real Sociedad and Atletico’s defense fire with 24 goals in his first 19 games of the aggregate by Atletico Madrid on in the past week. year after a stunning 2015 that elevated him Lack of competent back-up Wednesday. A 2-0 defeat at the Vicente back above Real Madrid rival Cristiano Despite Barca’s obvious signs of fatigue, Calderon was Barca’s third in four games Difficult run of fixtures Ronaldo to reclaim the Ballon d’Or. Yet, he Luis Enrique has used his full comple- after a 39-match unbeaten run stretching Just as Barca have wained physically, has been held scoreless in Barca’s five-game ment of three substitutions just twice in the back the previous six months. Here, AFP they also faced their most difficult run of the wobble since and has continually dropped last five games. With the star front three of Sports looks at five reasons why Barca have season with two gruelling games against deeper, further away from the opposition Messi, Luis Suarez and taking up a suffered such a drastic dip in form. Atletico and Real’s visit to the area to try and make a difference as a play- huge chunk of Barca’s wage bill, there wasn’t mixed in with a trip to high-flying Villarreal maker without success. enough spare cash to reinforce the squad Tiredness and a visit to Sociedad’s Anoeta, where they with a fourth striker as Enrique wanted in The effects of playing in six competitions have their last four league games. Barca have International break January. Moreover, expensive signings like since mid-August with a short squad has won just one of those five, and were lucky to Barca’s record unbeaten run was ended Turan, Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas finally begun to take hold on a Barca squad even do that as Fernando Torres’s sending- in their first game after the March interna- Vermaelen have only contrived to make a that was also affected by a transfer ban last off turned the first leg against Atletico with tional break as their momentum was stalled negative impact. Mathieu’s introduction for summer, which delayed big money signings Los Rojiblancos leading 1-0 at the time. A by a two-week layoff whilst the majority of Gerard Pique with Barca leading 2-0 at Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal’s involvement three-point lead over Atletico with just six their squad jetted around the world. Of the Villarreal changed the game as the until January. Barca have played 56 games games to go means Barca are still strong Barca 11 that started El Clasico, six had repre- Frenchman scored an own goal to earn the already this season, including a mid-season favourites to retain their title, princi- sented their country in South American hosts a point. Meanwhile, Turan endured a trip to Japan for the Club World Cup. By con- pally because their calendar eases up signifi- World Cup qualifiers in the previous week. torrid return to the Vicente Calderon on trast, Atletico have played 48 matches and cantly in the final weeks of the season. The inopportune timing of the break just as Wednesday having left Atletico last summer Real Madrid 43. The Catalans were overrun Five-time World Player of the Year Lionel the business end of the club season begins in his own words to “win the Champions by Real in the final stages as their losing run Messi has now failed to score the last seven has been questioned by Europe’s biggest League.” — AFP

Hazard warning for 5th-placed Gladbach

HANOVER: Borussia Moenchengladbach are running out of chances to secure a Champions League spot for a second straight season and a win at bottom club Hanover 96 today is now almost obligatory. Gladbach, who finished third in the Bundesliga last season, the last automatic qualifying spot for Europe’s biggest club competition, are fifth in the table with only five games remaining. The team had a stellar first half of the campaign under coach Andre Schubert, who took over from Lucien Favre in September, but their Champions League hopes have dipped after losing three of the last six matches. “We still have qualifica- tion in our own hands,” said attacking mid- fielder Thorgan Hazard. “We have only two more home games so we have to collect points on the road. “It would be wrong to underesti- mate Hanover. They may have few chances of staying up but the change of coach has given the players confidence.” Gladbach have not travelled well in recent months, with their last away victory coming in October. Schubert’s men have 45 points and MADRID: Barcelona’s Luis Suarez (left) elbows Atletico’s Diego Godin as they jump for a high ball during the Champions League 2nd leg are ahead of Mainz 05 and Schalke 04 on goal quarterfinal soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon stadium on Wednesday April 13, 2016. — AP difference. Gladbach trail fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen by three points and Hertha Berlin, who are third, by four. Fourth spot at the end Once unbeatable Barca of the season will secure a berth in the Champions League preliminary round. Hanover, who brought in Daniel Stendel as move on after collapse coach earlier this month to replace Thomas Schaaf, are all but certain of going down on 18 points, 10 off the relegation playoff spot. If MADRID: Once unbeatable Barcelona is wonder- We have two competitions left now, with a Valencia, when it played without the regular they are beaten today, Hanover would equal ing where it all went wrong. The team that only a great chance to win them. They are two attractive starters. Since the Villarreal game, Barcelona’s trio the league record with an eighth straight few weeks ago celebrated a streak of 39 games goals to aim for. For any other coach in world, of high-profile forwards managed to score only home defeat. without a loss is now lamenting elimination from winning those two would be enough. But we two goals in four matches - both times with Bayern Munich and second-placed Borussia Europe’s most important club competition. The must improve.” Barcelona is left with the Spanish Suarez in the first leg against Atletico, after Dortmund have already opened a big gap at Spanish giant was ousted by rival Atletico Madrid league and the final of the Copa del Rey, which Fernando Torres was sent off in the first half. the top of the table. Leaders Bayern, who have in the quarterfinals of the Champions League on will be played against Sevilla in May. Winning the Messi is enduring his worst scoring slump with 75 points and are chasing a record fourth con- Wednesday after its third loss in four games - a 2- league seemed like a certainty for the Catalan Barcelona in five years. He’s been held scoreless secutive Bundesliga crown, host Schalke 0 defeat at the Vicente Calderon Stadium that club a few rounds ago, but with the team’s recent since a win over Arsenal in the round of 16 of the tomorrow. Europa League quarter-finalists erased its 2-1 first-leg win at the Camp Nou. struggles, not even that is guaranteed. Champions League on March 16. Neymar hasn’t Dortmund, who still have an outside shot at The result ended Barcelona’s chances of Barcelona held a nine-point lead over Atletico found the net in four games, since the Villarreal repeating the treble of Champions League, Copa less than a month ago but the gap has dwindled game in the Spanish league. In the midst of the the title and are sure of playing Champions del Rey and Spanish league titles - its biggest to only three points after a draw and two consec- turmoil, Barcelona had to mourn the death of for- League football next season, are on 68 points goal entering the season. The loss also further utive losses, including one at home to Real mer idol Johan Cruyff, who passed away just and entertain Hamburg SV on Sunday. dented the confidence of players who looked Madrid, which is four points back and also in con- before the 2-1 home loss to Real Madrid. Veteran Hertha travel tomorrow to fifth from bot- unstoppable not long ago. , Luis tention. “It’s obvious we aren’t at our best at the Andres Iniesta said there is no doubt tom Hoffenheim who are battling to avoid the Suarez and Neymar - the trio of world-class strik- moment,” Luis Enrique said. “Especially if you the recent setbacks have affected the team’s drop. Last season’s runners-up VfL Wolfsburg, ers that are capable of scoring at will - have been consider the level we have been playing at this mindset. “The dynamic is not positive right now. eliminated from the Champions League by far from great recently. “Our objectives are season. But that’s football. We need to lift our- We have to find strength because what’s left to be Real Madrid on Tuesday, are down in eighth always the highest, we are proud that Barcelona selves now.” Until a 2-2 draw at Villarreal in the played is still important,” Iniesta said. “It hurts to position and visit Werder Bremen tomorrow. always aims to win everything,” coach Luis league three rounds ago, Barcelona was cruising. be going through this moment. It hurts a lot for all — Reuters Enrique said. “But we must accept this result and The club had won 19 of 20 games, and the of us, but we have to keep working to try to win try to improve. only winless result was a Copa del Rey draw at what’s still left to be won.” —AP